** UN Climate Talks Face Criticism Over Host Country's Fossil Fuel Ties

The United Nations' COP climate talks have been criticized by key experts, including a former UN secretary general and former UN climate chief, for being "no longer fit for purpose" in addressing the fast-moving climate crisis. The criticism comes after Azerbaijan's president praised natural gas as a "gift from God" during the latest conference, while a senior official was accused of using their role to arrange meetings about potential fossil fuel deals.

The authors of the letter, which includes prominent figures such as Ban-Ki Moon and Christiana Figueres, are concerned about the slow pace of progress at COP talks and the selection process for hosting countries. They argue that host countries must demonstrate a high level of ambition in upholding the goals of the Paris agreement and propose smaller, more frequent COPs with clear accountability.

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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lknel1xpo